Last summer term, the Social Sciences faculty in the Department of Basic Studies organized an exposure trip for students as part of their requirements in SS-013: Economics, Taxation and Agrarian Reform under Prof. James Ronald Mesina. The group had three visits to Sitio Balagbag Araw, Canlubang, Calamba City. Balagbag-Araw is a community struggling for the ownership of their lands as provided by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Last May 29-30, 2008 the administrators and heads of the different departments of Malayan Colleges Laguna convened for a planning session for the Academic Year 2008-2009. This was held at The Orchard Golf and Country Club, Dasmariñas, Cavite sponsored by Petro Energy Resources, Inc. The Planning Session was aligned to MCL’s commitment to continuous quality improvement of the services that it offers to students, and the community. It also checks on the areas that MCL has accomplished already as planned in the year 2006.

Last May 19, 2008, the HRM students of Malayan Colleges Laguna visited the Hacienda Macalauan in Barrio Mabacan, Calauan, Laguna. Hacienda Macalauan is a dairy farm where cows with imported breed from New Zealand are raised to produce milk and other dairy products.

Malayan Colleges Laguna adheres to holistic approach in training students. Thence, learning is not confined in the four walls of the classroom and teaching at MCL encourages the students to explore the natural and social environment and make it a wide venture for meaningful learning experience.

Last March 03, 2008 World Bank Philippine Office visited Malayan Colleges Laguna and delivered a short briefing titled: WB-101. The briefing was a part of the Bank’s “Know the World Bank” program wherein students and scholars are invited to visit the World Bank-Manila Office at Taipan Place, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

John Locke once said that “a sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world.”  Malayan Colleges Laguna commits to the development of a sound mind amongst students through quality education and the development of a sound body is the inspiration for Rizal Cup 2007.  The sportsfest kicked-off last 10 December 2007 and the victors were gloriously last 3 March 2008. Students from Mapua Institute of Technology at Laguna, E.T. Yuchengco College of Business at Laguna, and College of Information Technology showed their prowess in Chess, Game of the Generals, and Basketball.

Last March 01, 2008, the Department of Basic Studies launched the MCL Y-Speak, the culminating activity of the Nationalism Week celebration. The MCL Y-Speak is a variety talk show patterned after the phenomenal show of ABS-CBN Studio 23’s Y-Speak aired every Saturdays.

Last February 27- March 3, 2008 the Department of Basic Studies launched a photo exhibit as a part of the Nationalism Week celebration of Malayan Colleges with the theme: Remembering the EDSA Miracle: One Nation, One Hope. The photo exhibit was staged at the lobby of the E.T. Yuchengco Building, and featured the theme EDSA: Isang Pagbabalik-Tanaw. The formal opening of the exhibit was last February 27, 2008 with a short program hosted by Prof. Rowena Dela Cruz. Prof. Clarence del Castillo, head of the committee on photo exhibit delivered the opening remarks and emphasizing the need to revisit the historical events that shaped the institution of democracy in the country. A special number was performed by Geronimo Lomeda and Louie Lacastesantos with a very warm rendition of the 1986 popular theme song “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo”.

During the Nationalism Week celebration, the Department of Basic Studies organized a series of film screenings for students. Featured films are highly acclaimed titles who have won international and local awards for rendering nationalistic themes and adherence to patriotic ideas such as “Dekada ‘70”, “Minsan Isang Gamu-Gamo”, “and the documentary “Batas Militar”.

Last February 26, 2008 an Asian Parliamentary Debate was held at the Francisco Balagtas auditorium. The said event is the first of its kind at Malayan Colleges Laguna. It was organized by Prof. Aurora D. Alforte, faculty member in the Social Sciences cluster, Department of Basic Studies.

As part of the Food & Beverage Holiday 2008 activities held last 16 February 2008, a seminar on wellness was delivered by Dr. Zenaida F. Velasco, a John Robert Powers International facilitator, an entrepreneur, an author & a professor, among others.

The main event of the Food & Beverage Holiday 2008, held last 16 February 2008, was the Culinary Showdown, the first inter-school culinary competition for high school students held in the region.  The showdown was participated in by nine (9) teams from high schools in Laguna & Cavite. 

The MCL Students, High school students and the other guests were all awaiting for the Food Preparation & Presentation Demo.  These cooking enthusiasts are eager to see what Chef Marc Christian Galvez, a Commis  from Holland America Cruise Line and one of the judges in the Culinary Showdown , will demonstrate that afternoon.  Chef Marc indeed satisfied the crowd’s hunger for food preparation and presentation techniques as he taught them how to prepare and  plate two dishes, namely; Surf & Turf (beef & prawns)  and Prawns Provencale. Indeed, good knowledge on cooking and a little creativity in food presentation will surely transform a simple meal into a spectacular one.

The Beverage Mixing Challenge like the Culinary Showdown, held last 16 February 2008, was also something new among the high schools in the area.  Seven contestants were brave enough to take on the challenge and participate in this mocktail challenge. Mr. Richie Cruz, a UST Bar and Beverage Instructor, who is also one of the judges gave a brief demonstration on the basics of flairtending and some inspiring words to the students before the actual contest started. 

Last 25 January 2008, the Mapua Concert Singers in cooperation with the Malayan Chamber Choir successfully staged the musical play “Elias at Salome” at the Francisco Balagtas Auditorium.  The musical play was presented to the Malayan community and guests at 10:00 a.m. and at 2:10 p.m.

The Design Wizards competition composed of “ChemLab Whiz ‘08”, “Egg-Drop Contest”, “Wind Blown Carts”, and ”Rubik’s Cube Challenge” were held last 24 January 2008 at the Jose Rizal Hall.

Last 23 January 2008, students, faculty, and staff trooped to the Francisco Balagtas Auditorium to watch, cheer, and support the contestants for the Malayan Duets. Inspired by the popular TV show Celebrity Duets and organized by United by Sound (an accredited MCL student organization) in cooperation with the Center for Student Activities and Discipline, the MCL community was treated to an afternoon of impressive performances and beautiful singing voices from selected Alpha batch students and their partners who are either MCL faculty or staff.

As part of the MCL 1.0 Alphacelebration, the CIT (College of Information Technology) Student Council together with the PSITE (Philippine Society of Information Technology Students) organized the first Malayan DOTA Tournament last 22 January 2008.  Defense of The Ancients, more popularly known as DOTA is a role playing multiplayer computer game wherein the a team aims to destroy the Tree of Life or the Frozen Throne of another team. 

MCL hosts the Adventures in Discovery – Travelling Science Centrum (AID – TSC) from 21 January – 29 February 2008 at the 4th Floor of Jose Rizal Hall. The AID – TSC is a project of the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST) or more commonly known as the Philippine Science Centrum and has an exhibit of 42 modules that introduce concepts of science to students in a practical and interactive way. In addition, MCL will be replicating the Wonder House exhibit of PSC in Marikina and will make it a permanent attraction of the MCL.

The week-long celebration of Malayan Colleges Laguna (MCL) kicked-off with a motorcade last January 21, 2008.  At half past ten in the morning, thirteen (13) vehicles carrying MCL employees and students participated in the motorcade escorted the Cabuyao National Police and the Canlubang Patrol 902. The motorcade covered the towns/cities of Canlubang, Cabuyao, Sta. Rosa, Biñan and San Pedro.  During the motorcade, MCL flyers were distributed to the public.